Just as the Empress was about to say that she would not be retained, a tall and elegant figure suddenly walked into the hall. Immediately, everyone hurriedly bowed and said, "Long live the Empress."
At the last moment, the Emperor had finally arrived.
Seeing this, Baoqin's heart relaxed. She knew that this trip would not be in vain.
Since the Emperor had arrived, the Empress naturally had to give up the main seat and sit on the seat next to him.
The Emperor slowly lifted the hem of his robe and sat down. He asked, "Who is being chosen now?"
Wasn't this obvious? Why did he still ask?
Naturally, no one dared to say this out loud. The Empress respectfully replied, "The Empress is choosing this Xue Baoqin. Her ancestor is Ziwei Jiren." After saying this, she sighed softly in her heart.
She knew that her previous painstaking efforts had been in vain.
This Xue Baoqin was definitely going to be chosen.
How could there be a man in this world who could resist this kind of beauty?
Baoqin lowered her head. She seemed to be respectful, but her eyes were secretly looking up, carefully sizing up this young and promising Emperor.
She saw that he was not wearing a dragon robe. He was only wearing an inconspicuous sapphire blue robe. A wide white jade belt was tied around his waist, showing off his extremely pleasing broad shoulders, slender waist, and long legs. He was truly a charming man.
His facial features were handsome, and his temperament was gentle and elegant. When he was not smiling, the corners of his mouth seemed to be slightly raised.
After looking at him a few times, Baoqin was very satisfied with the appearance of her future husband.
Although she came for glory and wealth, after all, no one would like to see an ugly person all day long, right?
Even if she did not love him, it would be good to put him aside as a vase.
Xue Baoqin did not expect that her certainty and indifference at this time would turn into a passionate love in the end.
Naturally, the Heavens did not let her down.
Before this, she had already received an even stronger and deeper feeling of love …
Of course, that was a matter for the future.
At this moment, the two people in the hall had not expected that they would become each other's one and only.
Xue Baoqin wanted the power in the emperor's hands, while the emperor only wanted Baoqin's beauty. At least, at this moment, in his heart, Baoqin's position was not very important.
Although she had stirred up feelings similar to a young man's first love, he was still a high and mighty emperor with great power in his hands.
Self-control was something that was indispensable.
The Emperor looked at Baoqin, who was standing in the hall like a man in a painting, and said, "After Ziwei gave up … have you studied?"
The Empress had asked the same question before, and now the Emperor was asking the same question.
Wasn't it said that a woman's virtue was to have no talent?
It seemed that the palace still valued the talents of the concubines.
At the very least, the emperor thought highly of him.
Thinking of this, Baoqin replied, "Replying to Your Majesty, when I was young, my father hired a teacher to teach me. I have studied." She said this with confidence. She remembered all the talents of the original body.
It was not an exaggeration to say that she was well-read.
Hearing Baoqin's answer, the Emperor seemed satisfied, "Very good. Being well-read is a natural talent. Your father was a sensible person.
Is he well now? "
Baoqin's face showed a trace of sadness and nostalgia, "My father has passed away long ago."
The Emperor's gentle black eyes showed some pity, "Then who else is in your family?"
Baoqin said, "I have an elder brother in my family. He and I depend on each other."
The Emperor said, "Oh?
So, your elder brother is now inheriting the family business and is an imperial merchant? "
Baoqin said, "My family does not have the qualifications to be an imperial merchant. The title of imperial merchant is now with my uncle.
My elder brother is just an ordinary merchant. "
Both parents died. Without the status of an imperial merchant, the brother and sister rely on each other … Hearing Baoqin's words, the Emperor imagined many miserable scenes in his mind. Suddenly, he felt more pity for Baoqin, "It's been hard on you. You have experienced so many hardships at such a young age.
Don't worry. Once you enter the palace, you will no longer feel that life is difficult. "
Hearing this, Baoqin bowed and thanked the Emperor.
The Empress sighed and finally smiled, "Baoqin of the Xue Clan of the Ziwei Family will be retained."
Baoqin returned to the line. Next, it was the turn of the three harem girls behind her.
Two in a row were not retained.
One of them cried on the spot. Although the other one had an ugly expression, she did not lose her composure. After quietly thanking the Empress for her kindness, she returned.
The last one was Miss Danhua of the Mei family.
When the Empress heard the eunuch say that Mei Danhua was already nineteen years old, she frowned slightly and said, "You seem to be a little older.
Why is your family still keeping you when you are already nineteen years old? "Could it be that there was something hidden?
The Empress's eyes were telling her this question.
When Mei Danhua heard this, she hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, this is all because this subject's mother loved her daughter dearly and couldn't bear for this subject to marry so early. Thus, this subject was left to this age …" As she spoke, she secretly raised her eyes and shot a glance at the handsome emperor on the throne.
Unfortunately, her flirtatious eyes were for the blind. The Emperor gave a small yawn and didn't even look at her.
After seeing Baoqin's beauty, Mei Danhua's beauty was not worth mentioning.
It was normal that she could not attract the Emperor's interest.
Thinking of this, Mei Danhua hated Xue Baoqin even more.
Seeing the Emperor's attitude, the Empress felt more confident.
After asking Mei Danhua a few questions, she prepared to chase her out.
At this moment, Consort Xian, who had been silent all this time, suddenly asked with a smile, "The clothes you are wearing are quite new. Did you come up with the design yourself?"
When Mei Danhua heard the question, she hurriedly replied with a smile, "Replying to Imperial Concubine Xian, it was this subject's daughter who thought of it." She somewhat proudly stretched out her hand and unfolded her skirt, showing it to Imperial Concubine Xian.
The bright red and shiny gold satin was dotted with flowers made of various colors. In addition, there were many pearls and crystal beads. It was almost dazzling.
Baoqin could not help but glance at it. He felt that this dress was a joke on Mei Danhua, but if it was worn by Consort Xian, it might look very good.
After all, with Consort Xian's passionate and rich temperament, she should be able to suppress this kind of beauty.
Perhaps because she liked Mei Danhua's craftsmanship and thought, Consort Xian smiled and said to the Empress, "Miss Mei's mind is very clever. The palace lacks people like her. Why don't you stay?
Your Majesty, what do you think? "
Hearing this, the Empress looked at the somewhat lazy Emperor, "Your Majesty, what do you mean?"
The Emperor glanced at Consort Xian and said, "Since my beloved consort thinks she can stay, then she can stay."
Hearing this, Consort Xian gave the Emperor a flirtatious look, then looked at Mei Danhua and said, "Congratulations, Miss Mei."
Mei Danhua was overjoyed. Her face was wild with joy, "I thank Your Majesty, thank Your Majesty, thank Your Majesty, thank Your Majesty, thank Your Majesty, thank Your Majesty, thank Your Majesty, thank Your Majesty, thank Your Majesty, thank Your Majesty, thank Your Majesty …"
She had not even officially entered the palace, but she already called herself a concubine.
Who knew how many days a person with such a stupid temperament could survive in the palace.
Consort Xian smiled slightly, but there was not a trace of emotion in her eyes.
Noon had already passed. Xue Wu, who was waiting outside the palace, was hungry, but he did not realize that his stomach was hungry.
He was like an ant in a pot of oil, constantly rubbing his hands as he walked back and forth. From time to time, he would raise his eyes to look at the tall vermilion palace door that was nailed with shining copper nails.
It felt as if ten thousand years had passed before he finally saw the beauties walk out.
Soon, he saw his sister in the crowd. She still had a calm expression on her face.
Compared to the joyful expressions of the other beauties who were chosen, he thought that his sister was not chosen, so he walked over and comforted her, "Sister, don't be sad. We will still go back to Jinling.
Fortunately, the fields are still there. It won't be a problem to feed us siblings … "
Baoqin raised the corner of his mouth and looked at Xue Wu, "Go back for what?
Wait for people from the palace to go to Jinling to pick you up?
Wouldn't that be our fault? "
Xue Wu was stunned, and then couldn't help but laugh, "Looking at sister's appearance, I thought that you were not chosen!"
He was happy that his sister was chosen, but also sad that his sister was about to leave him. His mood was very complicated, so he was not as happy as the families of the other beauties who were chosen.
The beauties, regardless of whether they were chosen or not, all boarded their carriages again and waited for the imperial harem to announce their positions in a few days. Then, they could officially enter the palace.
There was no doubt that when Baoqin returned to the Rongguo Mansion, he was warmly welcomed.
Whether it was the people of the Xue family or the Jia family, no matter what they were thinking, their faces were filled with joy.
Only Jia Baoyu, who was an anomaly, sighed and felt that it was a pity.
His father, Jia Zheng, was so angry that he almost wanted to teach him a lesson. He did not know what sins he had committed in his previous life to give birth to such a little bastard.
Compared to his late brother, Jia Zhu, he was not even half a bit worse.
Inside the Imperial Palace, in the Empress' Phoenix Palace.
The sun was setting, and the afterglow was like blood falling on the palace walls. At first glance, one would almost think that the walls were smeared with a layer of blood. It was quite scary.
The eunuchs and palace maids were all standing solemnly with their hands by their sides. It was so quiet that even a needle dropping on the ground could be heard.
A white cat silently walked through the shadows. It had a long, curly tail behind it. At first glance, it looked like a snake.
A woman dressed as a palace maid walked into the Empress' Palace with a basin of hot water. She gently placed the copper basin on a mahogany shelf at the side.
The steam slowly rose into the air and continued to condense.